Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities December 15, 2020

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Solid Waste Management Grants
USDA Rural Development program helps to reduce or eliminate pollution of water resources by funding organizations to provide technical assistance or training to improve the management of solid waste sites. Application Deadline: Dec. 31, 2020

Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grant Program
USDA Rural Development program is making grants available to provide technical assistance and/or training to help recipients support rural water or wastewater systems. Application Deadline: Dec. 31, 2020

Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program
USDA Forest Service requests proposals for projects to install a thermally-led community wood energy system or to build an innovative wood product facility. This program is intended to support forest health and stimulate local economies by expanding renewable wood energy use and innovative wood products manufacturing capacity. Application Deadline: Feb. 3, 2021

NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program
The National Park Service is accepting applications for technical assistance to design trails and parks, conserve and improve access to rivers, protect special places, and create recreation opportunities. Application Deadline: March 1, 2021

Quick Links to COVID-19 Resources Related to Rural Infrastructure:

Economic Development

Farm to School Program
USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Office of Community Food Systems offers grants to assist eligible entities implement farm-to-school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. Application Deadline: Jan. 8, 2021

HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’ Health Resources and Services Administration offers funding to increase the supply of behavioral health professionals while also improving distribution of a quality behavioral health workforce and thereby increasing access to behavioral health services. Application Deadline: Jan. 21, 2021

Forest Service Cross-Boundary Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Request for Applications 2021
This request for applications will support projects for cross‐boundary wildfire hazard mitigation on non-federal lands; wildfire risk reduction, and wildfire response. Application Deadline: Jan. 15, 2021

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
USDA Rural Development offers grants and loan/grant opportunities for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements. Loan guarantees may be used to purchase new energy efficiency equipment. As of Oct. 1, 2020, loan guarantees for this program are now streamlined under the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative. Application Deadline: Grants - Feb. 1, 2021 | Loan & Grant Combinations - March 31, 2021 | Loan Guarantees - Ongoing

Administration for Community Living Small Business Innovation Research Program Phase I
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Community Living offers funding for research and/or development to help individuals with disabilities to perform activities inclusive of health and employment related with a program emphasis on socially/economically disadvantaged individuals and applicants from underrepresented or rural areas. Applications Due: Feb. 2, 2021

Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP)
USDA is making grants available to from utilities to help rural families and small businesses make cost-saving energy efficiency improvements. A letter of intent is required. Application Deadline: Open until funds are expended or until further notice.

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 11/17/2020

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Community Facilities Direct Loan & Grant Program
USDA Rural Development is making funding available to build, expand and improve essential community facilities which includes qualified equipment. Access the guidebook for more information. Application Deadline: Ongoing

Connected Care Pilot Program
The Universal Service Administrative Company established a three-year pilot program which will provide funding to help defray eligible health care providers’ costs for nonprofit and public health care providers up to 85 percent of the eligible costs of broadband connectivity, equipment and information services to provide connected care services to a patient population. Application Deadline: Dec. 7, 2020

Community Connect Grant Program
USDA Rural Development provides financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. Fact Sheet. Application Deadline: Dec. 23, 2020

Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program
USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA B&I CARES Act Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Access recorded webinars for Lenders and Businesses and Producers. Application Deadline: Sept. 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.

Quick Links to COVID-19 Resources Related to Rural Infrastructure:

Economic Development

Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services program is providing assistance to enhance health care delivery to rural underserved populations. Application Deadline: Dec. 1, 2020

USDA Farm to School Program
The Food and Nutrition Service’s Office of Community Food Systems offers grants to assist eligible entities implement farm-to-school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools. Application Deadline: Jan. 8, 2021

National Telehealth Resource Center (RTRC) Program
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’ Health Resources and Services Administration offers funding to assist health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural areas and populations. Application Deadline: Jan. 21, 2021

Rural Health and Safety Education Competitive Grants Program
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture program offers support for programs offering community-based outreach education programs that positively impact health and safety. Application Deadline: Apr. 29, 2021

Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities, October 20, 2020

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Multipurpose, Cleanup and Assessment Brownfield Grants
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides grants to carry out a wide range of eligible assessment, cleanup, planning and community involvement activities to support community health within an eligible area, such as a neighborhood, town, district or census tract. Application Deadline: Oct. 28, 2020

Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) Renewable Energy Systems and Energy Efficiency Improvements Grants and Guaranteed Loans
USDA Rural Development grant and loan/grant opportunities for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install and construct renewable energy systems or complete energy efficiency improvements, such as the installation of solar panels for hospitals or clinics, to improve energy costs. Application Deadline: Nov. 2, 2020 or March 31, 2021.

Technical Assistance and Training for Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions Grant Pilot Program
USDA Rural Development grant to help develop innovative treatment solutions of regional wastewater systems in rural America. Application Deadline: Nov. 4, 2020

New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) Program
U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI) offers tax incentives for investments in business and economic development projects in distressed rural and urban counties, including capital investments in health care facilities. Application Deadline: Nov. 16, 2020

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities & Flood Mitigation Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers funding for eligible activities to strengthen the nation’s ability to build a culture of preparedness by reducing disaster losses and protecting life and property from future damages. Application Deadlines: Jan. 29, 2021

Quick Links to COVID-19 Resources Related to Rural Infrastructure:

Economic Development

Capacity Building Program for Non-Land Grant Colleges of Agriculture
USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture is making grants available to assist in maintaining and expanding capacity to conduct education, research, and outreach/extension activities related to food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. Application Deadline: Oct. 28, 2020

Local Foods, Local Places
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and USDA invite communities to apply for technical assistance to help revitalize their economy, promote local foods, improve health, and protect the environment with communities revitalizing neighborhoods through development of local food systems. Application Deadline: Oct. 30, 2020.

Advanced Biofuel Payment Program
USDA Rural Development offers this program to expand the production of advanced biofuel by providing payments to eligible producers. Examples of advanced biofuel include biodiesel, ethanol (other than corn kernel), electricity and biogas produced from anaerobic digesters, and solid fuels. Application Deadline: Oct. 31, 2020

H-1B One Workforce Grant Program
U.S. Department of Labor program supports training for middle to high skilled H-1B occupations within key sectors in the U.S. economy, including information technology and cyber security, advanced manufacturing and transportation, to upskill the present workforce and train a new generation of workers to grow the future workforce. Application Deadline: Nov. 12, 2020

Rural Health Network Development Planning Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is making grants available to help plan and develop integrated rural health care networks to improve efficiency; expand access coordinate, improve the quality of essential health care services, and strengthen the rural health care system. Application Deadline: Nov. 16, 2020

Quick Links to COVID-19 Resources to Support Rural Economic Development:

Federal Reserve Bank of Boston: Main Street Lending Program

Innovation Matters Funding Opportunities 10/06/2020

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Technical Assistance and Training for Innovative Regional Wastewater Treatment Solutions Grant Pilot Program
USDA Rural Development grant to help develop innovative treatment solutions of regional wastewater systems in rural America. Application Deadline: November 4, 2020

Business and Industry (B&I) CARES Act Program
USDA is making available up to $1 billion in loan guarantees to help rural businesses meet their working capital needs during the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, agricultural producers that are not eligible for USDA Farm Service Agency loans may receive funding under USDA B&I CARES Act Program provisions included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Webinar for Lenders and Webinar for Businesses and Producers. Application Deadline: September 15, 2021, or until funds are expended.

Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act Program
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers funding for programs to accelerate investment in critical water infrastructure through long-term, low cost, supplemental credit assistance under customized terms to credit-worthy water and wastewater projects of national and regional significance. Letter of Interest: October 15, 2020

Community Connect Broadband Grant Program
USDA Rural Development program to provide financial assistance to eligible applicants that will provide service at or above the Broadband Grant Speed to all premises in rural, economically-challenged communities where broadband service does not exist. Application Deadline: December 23, 2020

Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Products Manufacturing Assistance Program
USDA Rural Development provides loan guarantees up to $250 million to assist in the development, construction and retrofitting of new and emerging technologies. These technologies are: advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals and biobased products. Application Deadlines: April 1, 2021

Quick Links to COVID-19 Resources Related to Rural Infrastructure:

Economic Development

Cooperative Leadership Fund – Ralph K. Morris Foundation
The Ralph K. Morris Foundation Cooperative Leadership Fund provides financial support to help cover costs associated with training, professional development and educational programs for rural young leaders interested in the future of cooperatives and rural communities. Application Deadline: Rolling

Rural Healthcare Grant Program
U.S. Department of Labor program offers funding to address rural healthcare workforce shortages by investing in successful, employer-driven, training models and community partnerships which establish sustainable programs to help employers find skilled workers more readily. Application Deadline: November 13, 2020

Institute of Museum and Library Services Grant Opportunities Now Open
The Institute of Museum and Library Services offer six grant opportunities for Museums in rural communities. Application Deadlines: November 16, 2020

Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program
Department of Health and Human Services program to promote rural health care services to enhance health care delivery to rural underserved populations. Application Deadline: December 1, 2020

The Cooperative Education Fund
Cooperative Development Foundation offers grants to support cooperative research, sponsors cooperative education events and scholarships and develops cooperative education materials and programs. Application Deadline: Yearly by May 1 and Oct 1

Innovation Matters, Funding Opportunities December 15, 2020

Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

Economic Development

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Funding Opportunities

Rural Infrastructure

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